Political Musings - Asia in the Spotlight

The book is a collection of essays that reflect on significant events that have recently taken place in the Middle-East, South and South East Asia.

The essays were meant to analyse contemporary events that had the potential to influence the course of events not only into the immediate but also in the mid-term future of the nation involved. They also were considered to have implications for diplomatic relations between nations and the stability of the region. Some of the essays also analyse the broader impact the on-going events have on the wider international community. Since Asia has gradually moved into the epicentre of global activities, the events discussed in these essays could also be considered the starting point for what could grow to be historically important episodes. Asia will continue to be the focus for the world, since the global socio-economic and geo-political environment will be directly influenced by the activities that go on in this large and diverse continent.

Dr Sanu Kainikara is an ex-fighter pilot of the Indian Air Force and currently a practising Military Strategist residing in Canberra, Australia. He holds a Master of Science degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras, and his PhD in International Politics was awarded by the University of Adelaide in Australia. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of New South Wales and the inaugural Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Regional Security.

Dr Kainikara is the author of 11 books on national security and strategy, military forces and air power. He is a keen student of Indian history and is in the process of writing the history of India in a series of books titled From Indus to Independence: A Trek through Indian History. The first three volumes of the series have already been published and the fourth is nearing completion. He has also published a collection of political essays titled The Asian Crucible. He is a regular contributor to the Eurasia Review.

Sanu is the author of numerous papers on international politics, national security issues, and security strategy that have been published in reputed international journals; and has presented papers, on invitation, in a number of International Conferences around the world.

Author’s Preface,
Introduction: A Year Focused on Asia,
1 Saudi Arabia and Iran: Drawing the Battle Lines,
2 Can the Islamic State be Defeated?,
3 The Pilgrims Progress: Russia in the Middle-East,
4 Afghanistan – A Long Way From Anywhere,
5 Pakistan: Painting Itself into a Corner,
6 India’s Diplomatic Disarray,
7 Indo-Russian Relations: A Dance Out-of-Step,
8 India’s China Policy: The Ambling Elephant Needs to Reassess,
9 India: Seeking its Place in the Sun,
10 Patience and Denial: China’s Dual Strategies,
11 The South China Sea Arbitration: The Court Rules – But Who Will Enforce the Writ?,
12 The Philippines – A New President Takes Over,
Conclusion